Morphological structure of venom glands of the species Apis mellifera L. (Insecta: Hymenoptera) and Pardosa agricolathorell,1856 (Araneae: Lycosidae)

In this study the morphological structure of the venom glands of the species Pardosa agricola and Apis mellifera was studied using light and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The venom apparatus of the spider lycosid (Araneae) situated in the prosoma, is composed of a pair of chelicerae and venom glands. Each chelicera consists of two parts, a stout basal part covered by hair, and a movable fang rests in a groove on the basal segment of chelicerae,each side of the groove is armed with cuticular teeth, The ventral surface of the fang has hollows like saw teeth, the tips of the fangs are quite sharp. A venom pore is situated on the subterminal part of the fang. The venom glands are large and roughly cylindrical, each gland is surrounded by completely striated muscular fibers, and has its own venom duct, the venom produced in the venom glands by contraction of these muscular fibers is ejected into the fang through a canal and the venom pore. The venom gland of worker honey bee is existing in posterior portion of the abdomen, between the worker's rectum and ovaries, connected with sting apparatus. The venom gland is a single, long, thin, distally bifurcated structure, opening into an ovoid reservoir.The gland contain of a pair of glandular tubules ending in a venom sac that opens in the base of the sting, allowed the venom be injected immediately with the stinging.